Experience prevails in battle of generations
Men’s Singles: Round of 16
With 12 years separating them, Japan’s Jun Mizutani, 30, has won a battle of generations encounter against Chinese Taipei’s Lin Yun-Ju, 18, to extend his progress. Seemingly heading for the exit at 0-3 down Mizutani benefited from his vast experience, keeping his cool to win four games on the bounce (10-12, 6-11, 9-11, 11-5, 11-8, 11-7, 12-10).
“In the first three games, I lost but I think it was not bad. I had some careless misses, if I could recover these misses, winning the match was still possible. I tried to make him miss the point and play every point carefully. Last year I was in a bad situation, but it returns and I think I proceed very much this year.” Jun Mizutani
However, Mizutani’s fellow countryman, Mizuki Oikawa tasted defeat in his Round of 16 meeting as top seed Xu Xin proved too much for the unseeded Japanese player (11-3, 9-11, 11-5, 11-6, 11-7).
Crowd help Dima over the line
Men’s Singles: Round of 16
Dimitrij Ovtcharov has just won an epic contest against Chinese Taipei qualifier Chuang Chih-Yuan to send the home crowd into rapturous applause! Trailing the games scoreboard three times, Dima refused to give up the fight and was eventually rewarded with a 4-3 win (8-11, 14-12, 16-18, 11-9, 3-11, 11-6, 12-10).
The other 8.20pm session fixture saw Korea Republic’s Cho Seungmin get the better of Frenchman Simon Gauzy across five games (14-12, 11-9, 6-11, 11-6, 11-5) – Cho meets Ma Long in the quarter-finals.
Lin Gaoyuan edges through tough encounter
Men’s Singles: Round of 16
What a match we’ve just witnessed on table 1 here in Magdeburg! Lin Gaoyuan saves five match points in game six to force a decider against Japan’s Koki Niwa. With momentum on his side, the Chinese player gets the job done (11-7, 9-11, 7-11, 11-5, 10-12, 18-16, 11-8) to book his place in the last eight.
“I think my opponent prepared for this match very well, it made things difficult for me. I tried to play more active and shout out to help me play better. Every point is important, it is the key to winning the match!” Lin Gaoyuan
Ma Long is also through, beating fellow compatriot Xu Chenhao 4-1 (7-11, 11-9, 11-9, 11-5, 11-5).
German stars give it their all but plaudits go to China
Men’s Singles: Round of 16
One of the standout faces in Magdeburg for his incredible run of results, Benedikt Duda’s journey has finally drawn to its conclusion with China’s Zhao Zihao recovering from 0-2 and then 2-3 down to defeat the German by a 4-3 score-line (7-11, 9-11, 11-6, 11-5, 10-12, 11-8, 11-8).
China also held the upper hand against Germany over on table 1 as Fan Zhendong battled past Timo Boll at the German Open for the second successive year, backing up his five game win from the 2019 event with a 4-2 success this time around (11-9, 11-7, 8-11, 11-9, 4-11, 11-9).
Grand Finals rematch locked in!
Mixed Doubles: Semi-Finals
Having met only last month in the title deciding match at the 2019 ITTF World Tour Grand Finals, China’s Xu Xin and Liu Shiwen will face off with Japan’s Jun Mizutani and Mima Ito once again after both pairs successfully came through their mixed doubles semi-final encounters in Magdeburg.
Top seeds Xu and Liu negotiated a severe test, needing all five games to see off local favourites Patrick Franziska and Petrissa Solja (11-5, 10-12, 11-2, 9-11, 11-5) while Mizutani and Ito, seeded fourth, accounted for second seeds Lin Yun-Ju and Cheng I-Ching (11-2, 11-8, 11-7).
Hirano and Ishikawa fight their way to victory
Women’s Doubles: Semi-Finals
Down 0-1 on the scoreboard, Japan’s Miu Hirano and Kasumi Ishikawa kept their composure to secure a terrific 3-1 comeback victory against Chinese no.3 seeds Ding Ning and Sun Yingsha (10-12, 11-8, 11-7, 12-10).
Awaiting the Japanese pair in the final is another Chinese partnership in the form of top seeds Chen Meng and Wang Manyu, who also came through a four-game tie against the host nation’s Nina Mittelham and Petrissa Solja (11-4, 7-11, 15-13, 11-4).
“The prolongation of the third game was annoying but we played a surprisingly good cooperation. With Petrissa Solja I am playing after more than six years again with a left-hander. It will become a good partnership within the next competitions.” Nina Mittelham
Top seeds miss out
Men’s Doubles: Semi-Finals
Seeded first for the men’s doubles competition but Jeoung Youngsik and Lee Sangsu won’t be present in Saturday’s final after losing out to Cho Daeseong and Jang Woojin 3-1 in an all-Korean semi-final affair (11-8, 11-5, 7-11, 11-3).
Over on table 2 Lin Gaoyuan and Ma Long came close to a penultimate round exit, fighting past Poland’s Jakub Dyjas and Belgium’s Cedric Nuytinck in a seven-game thriller (11-9, 12-10, 6-11, 6-11, 11-6).
“During the first two sets we had some chances to win the sets. During the match against Franziska and Ovtcharov we had some great chances. During the next tournament we will play together further doubles competitions and will see if we have more success.” Cedric Nuytinck
Zhu and Wang through to quarters
Women’s Singles: Round of 16
In a double win for China, Zhu Yuling and Wang Yidi came out on top over their opponents, German Petrissa Solja and China’s He Zhuojia.
Zhu needed 33 minutes to see off the host Solja, winning 4-0 (11-9, 11-9, 11-6, 11-5). Similarly for Wang, she waltzed past her compatriot Zhuojia in straight games (12-10, 11-5, 11-6, 11-5) to reach the quarter-finals.
“During the first two sets I had the chance to receive some points more to win the sets. I am satisfied with my performance and angry about my faults. This was the reason why the result was not so successful.” Petrissa Solja
Sun pulls clear of Ishikawa
Women’s Singles: Round of 16
China’s rising star, Sun Yingsha defeated Japan’s Kasumi Ishikawa in a splendid performance by the teenager, winning 4-0 (11-5, 11-3, 14-12, 12-10).
Sadly for Japan it was difficult afternoon on multiple fronts, as Hina Hayata had to withdraw due to an injury, sending Chinese Olympian Ding Ning through to the quarter-finals. We wish Hina a speedy recovery.
Fan/Zhou exit to top seeds
Men’s Doubles: Quarter-finals
Fan Zhendong with Zhou Yu could not handle the speed of the Korea Republican duo of Lee Sangsu with Jeoung Youngsik, in a clinical 3-1 win for the top seeds (7-11, 11-7, 11-7, 11-4). despite losing the first game, Sangsu and Youngsik stuck to their gameplan and found their feet to attack the Chinese pairing with wide shots and a good defense.
For their compatriots, Cho Daeseong with Jang Woojin it was a much more difficult task against the Japanese pairing of Shunsuke Togami with Yukiya Uda. The young duo are in great form from the All Japan national tournament, and kept their opponents waiting until the decider, with Cho and Jang winning 3-2 (11-3, 9-11, 11-8, 8-11, 11-4) in a feisty battle.
Chinese pairs roll on
Women’s Doubles: Quarter-finals
Chen Meng with Wang Manyu were in a rush against Hong Kong China’s Lee Ho Ching and Soo Wai Yam Minnie, seeing off their challenge in 17 minutes and straight games (11-6, 11-5, 11-2).
Their Chinese compatriots, Ding Ning with Sun Yingsha followed their lead, beating Singapore’s Lin Ye and Yu Mengyu in a similarly swift 3-0 (11-5, 11-9, 11-7) win.
Lin/Cheng imperious
Mixed Doubles: Quarter-finals
Chinese Taipei’s Lin Yun-Ju and Cheng I-Ching were simply imperious against Slovakian duo Barbora Balazova and Lubomir Pistej, as they won 3-1 (9-11, 12-10, 11-7, 11-7), despite having lost the first game.
Over at table 2, however, there was to be no match at all as Jun Mizutani with Mima Ito progressed to the semi-finals by default because of the withdrawal by Spain’s Alvaro Robles and Maria Xiao.
Super start for Xu/Liu!
Mixed Doubles: Quarter-finals
The Chinese duo have cruised in their match against Hong Kong China’s Ho Kwan Kit and Lee Ho Ching, winning in straight games (11-5, 11-5, 11-8) and under 19 minutes!
Meanwhile, home favorites, Patrick Franziska and Petrissa Solja have been immensely patient in their battle against the other pairing from Hong Kong China, as they beat Wong Chun Ting and Doo Hoi Kem 3-0 (11-5, 11-4, 15-13).
